About Us

About JoelSalsa

We are a Latin dance school based in New York City. We offer different dance styles and levels of Salsa & Bachata. All of our dance instructors are professional and our Salsa & Bachata group classes are taught not only with the numbers, but we go deeper into Salsa & Bachata music to give you a better understanding of how to feel the rhythm and interpret it into your steps and partner work.

This creates a very different vibe in our group dance classes and lets us stand out from the rest!

We also specialize in Private lessons, corporate events and social dance events.

Our mission at JoelSalsa is to provide the highest level of artistic education and to inspire dancers & others around the world while keeping a loyal, friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

Our goal is to teach and create awareness of musicality; expression and connection with music and of course your partner.

Joel Dominguez

Owner, JoelSalsa

Salsa Instructor

Joel Dominguez has danced, taught, performed, choreographed and competed throughout various parts of the US and Mexico. He has been studying music and dance for more than ten years and boasts expertise in a broad range of latin dances including Salsa, Cha-Cha, Merengue, Bachata, and Casino Rueda.

He has appeared in commercials, music videos, news programs, and has danced professionally as a promotion for the incomparable, Gloria Estefan; but he maintains that his true passion has always remained with his ability to convey to others his enthusiasm for Salsa music and dance.

He contends that these combined entities celebrate an art form that represents, at the same time, both fever and fluidity. Joel has made it his life’s work to share that passion with others.

As a promoter, he, in cooperation with DJ Antonio “La Conga”, founded the La Vieja Guardia Salsa Social Events.

Maria Palmieri

Co-owner, JoelSalsa

Salsa Instructor

Maria is the one of the main Salsa Instructors at JoelSalsa. She is a very passionate dancer and is known for her sexy and unique style. Maria teaches and performs nationwide with her partner Joel Dominguez. She also specializes in teaching Ladies Styling workshops that help ladies add more confidence, femininity and sexiness to their dancing. She will work the girls to help them bring out their own sexiness and add expression to their dancing. She believes everyone has something unique to add into their dancing……
For more info on Maria and her intensive workshops, please visit her website http://MariaPalmieri.com

Edwin Ferreras

Bachata Instructor

“To watch us dance is to hear our hearts speak” God has blessed me with the ability to learn, imitate, re-create, blend, invent, and teach. I have been teaching since the first day I learned anything in school, as my mother was one of my first students. Even though I’ve been dancing since my days in the womb, it wasn’t till the age of 12 that I started taking it more seriously. I started with folkloric and traditional music from the Dominican Republic, merengue and bachata. At the start of my High School chapter, I dove into the hip-hop culture and later entered the salsa community. It’s safe to say that I enjoy trying new dance styles and I have no preference for style. In fact, I love fusing them all to create new moves, which I can pass on to others who share my vision.

Daniela

Bachata Instructor

Daniela Grosso developed the love and passion for bachata amongst her friends, going to different local clubs that held bachata nights only. This is how she met Edwin M. Ferreras, her dance partner, who like her is also a professional dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Daniela started training with Edwin and assisting his classes in June of 2011. Dani has performed and taught in various dance congresses and festivals, and has toured with popular music artists. She has worked in various cities in the U.S. including; New York, New Jersey, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Providence, Boston, Dallas, Houston, and many more.

Daniela has also been nominated for multiple Dance Awards in Reno Nevada including, Best New Teachers, Best Bachata Instructors, Best Choreographers, and Best Performing Couple, amongst other categories.

Dani’s services include performances, choreography for music videos, weddings, sweet 16’s, corporate events, private classes, group classes, workshops, and more. Her goal is to take her love passion for dance to a global market to share and teach students around the world the wonderful and expressive art form of dance.

Andrea Ude

Salsa Instructor

Andrea Ude began dancing at age 4, learning and performing a variety of styles, including ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical. With a hunger to further diversify her experience with as many dancing styles as possible, Andrea dedicated her college career to expanding her practice, knowledge, and love of dance. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Studies from Long Island University CW Post in 2009. During her undergrad career, she worked with multiple emerging choreographers and performed in legacy works with modern dance companies.

Since graduating, Andrea has continued to engross herself in the dancing world, with a specific focus on social dance, training extensively in Latin styles such as Salsa, Merengue, Rumba, and Cha-Cha as well as smooth styles.

With more than 20 years of dance experience, Andrea has been sharing her love and knowledge of dance through teaching for nearly a decade. From ensuring newlyweds have the perfect first dance, to instilling confidence in individuals looking to learn, Andrea continues to share her passion for dance as a salsa instructor at JoelSalsa.